JP2016220276A - Electric connection box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric connection box capable of saving weight, reducing a cost, and reducing the height of the whole box.SOLUTION: An electric connection box 1 includes: a pair of bus bars 3, 4 that form an electric path; a power module 5 that is disposed between the pair of bus bars 3, 4 and performs electrification and interception between the bus bars 3, 4; a control board 7 to which a control terminal for the power module 5 is electrically connected, the control board mounting a control unit 9 for controlling the power module 5; and a cover main body 2 in a box shape. The pair of bus bars 3, 4, the power module 5, and the control board 7 are housed in the cover main body 2 and are individually disposed on the approximately same plane.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical junction box that is mounted on a vehicle and performs power distribution.

  Conventionally, a variety of electronic devices are mounted on vehicles such as automobiles. In order to supply electric power to these electronic devices, automobiles are provided with an electrical junction box configured by integrating electrical components such as relays at appropriate locations between a power source such as a battery and the electronic device. .

  In recent years, electric vehicles such as electric cars and hybrid cars have electric connection boxes (hereinafter referred to as “power distribution boxes”) that are arranged between a high voltage battery and a high voltage load such as an inverter and perform energization or interruption. Are known. In this power distribution box, a power module (semiconductor module) is being used instead of a conventional mechanical relay. Although the semiconductor module can cope with a large electric power, it is a cause of an increase in size because the size of the module itself and a control board for module control are mounted.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical junction box. This electrical junction box is configured by housing a circuit component including a switching module and a power circuit board on which the switching module is mounted in a cover. Here, the switching module includes a semiconductor switch that performs energization or interruption of a current flowing through the power circuit board, and a control board that is mounted with the semiconductor switch and controls driving of the semiconductor switch. A control terminal that can be connected to the control board is provided at one end of the semiconductor switch, and a power terminal that can be connected to the power circuit board is provided at the other end of the semiconductor switch. And provided along a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate surface of the control board. The control board and the power circuit board are arranged opposite to each other.

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the power switch circuit board and the control board are separated by directing the terminals of the semiconductor switch toward the upper or lower surface of the switch (housing), thereby reducing the board area.

JP2013-27286A

  However, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a circuit through which a large current flows is routed in the circuit board. In a circuit that handles a high voltage and large current, such as a high voltage power distribution box, a thick copper substrate or the like is often used because it is necessary to secure a sufficient pattern width and thickness in the substrate. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the cost is increased and the weight is increased. Moreover, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the substrates are arranged to face each other, there is an inconvenience that the height is increased and the size is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical junction box capable of reducing the overall height of the box as well as reducing the weight and cost.

  In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a pair of bus bars that form an electrical path between a power source and an electronic device, and a pair of bus bars disposed between the pair of bus bars. A control unit that electrically connects the control unit and the control terminal of the blocking unit, a box-shaped cover, and a blocking unit that performs blocking, and a control unit that outputs a control signal that controls the blocking unit, An electrical junction box is provided. Here, the pair of bus bars, the blocking portion, and the control board are accommodated in a box-shaped cover, and are disposed on substantially the same plane.

  Here, it is preferable that the present invention further includes a sheet-like insulating member disposed between the arrangement surface in the vehicle where the electric junction box is arranged and the bottom surface of the box-shaped cover. Here, on the bottom surface of the box-shaped cover, an opening penetrating the inside and outside of the cover is formed corresponding to the arrangement region of the blocking portion, and the bottom surface of the blocking portion is interposed through a sheet-like insulating member. It is desirable to be placed in contact with the placement surface in the vehicle.

  Moreover, it is preferable that this invention further has a partition which stands in the bottom face of a box-shaped cover, and forms the wiring path of a pair of bus bars along the surrounding side wall of the said box-shaped cover. Here, it is desirable that the control board is arranged in the central region on the bottom surface of the box-shaped cover, and the routing path of the pair of bus bars is arranged around the control board with a partition wall therebetween.

  Furthermore, in this invention, the interruption | blocking part is laminated | stacked from a pair of bus bar arrange | positioned along a wiring path | route, and a pair of electric power terminal of an interruption | blocking part is each attached to the edge part of a pair of bus bar. Is preferred.

  According to the present invention, since an electrical path through which a large current flows is formed by the pair of bus bars, it is not necessary to form a circuit through which a large current flows on the control board. For this reason, since it is not necessary to use a thick copper board | substrate etc., an inexpensive and lightweight board | substrate can be used. In addition, since the pair of bus bars, the blocking portion, and the control board are positioned on substantially the same plane, the size of the box-shaped cover in the height direction can be suppressed, and the height of the electrical junction box can be reduced. it can. As a result, the overall height of the box can be reduced as well as weight reduction and cost reduction.

The perspective view which shows typically the structure of the electrical-connection box concerning this embodiment. The exploded perspective view which shows typically the composition of the electric junction box concerning this embodiment Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the electrical junction box which concerns on this embodiment typically Explanatory drawing showing assembly structure of bus bar and power module

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the electrical junction box 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the electrical junction box 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the electrical junction box 1 according to the present embodiment. The electrical junction box 1 according to the present embodiment is a power distribution box that performs energization and interruption between a high voltage battery and a high voltage load such as an inverter.

  The electrical junction box 1 is mainly composed of a cover body 2, a pair of bus bars 3 and 4, two sets of power modules 5, and a control board 7.

  The cover body 2 is a box-shaped cover (box body) that houses the pair of bus bars 3, 4, the power module 5, and the control board 7. The cover body 2 is made of an insulating synthetic resin and is formed by a well-known injection molding.

  The cover body 2 includes a lower cover 2a and an upper cover 2b. The lower cover 2a is a concave box having an upper opening, and a pair of bus bars 3 and 4, the power module 5 and the control board 7 are disposed on the bottom surface 2a1. The upper cover 2b is a concave box having an opening at the bottom, and is assembled to the lower cover 2a from above to constitute a cover body 2 as a box.

  Here, the lower cover 2a is set so that the pair of bus bars 3, 4, the power module 5, and the control board 7 are positioned on substantially the same plane.

  Further, a partition wall 2c is erected on the bottom surface 2a1 of the lower cover 2a along the peripheral side wall 2a2 of the lower cover 2a. The partition wall 2c and the peripheral side wall 2a2 of the lower cover 2a form a routing path for the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 along the peripheral side wall 2a2 of the lower cover 2a.

  An arrangement region for the control board 7 is provided in the central region of the bottom surface 2a1 of the lower cover 2a located inside the partition wall 2c. As a result, the routing path of the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 is arranged around the control board 7 with the partition wall 2c interposed therebetween. In the vicinity of the partition wall 2c, a plurality of pillar portions 2d are provided for supporting the control board 7 apart from the bottom surface 2a1 of the lower cover 2a.

  An opening 2e penetrating the inside and outside of the lower cover 2a is formed in the arrangement area of the power module 5 in the bottom surface 2a1 of the lower cover 2a.

  The pair of bus bars 3 and 4 in one set form an electrical path (voltage circuit) between the high voltage battery and the high voltage load. In this embodiment, the voltage circuit corresponding to the positive electrode side. It is. The pair of bus bars 3 and 4 are arranged on both sides of the power module 5, and constitute a continuous voltage circuit via the power module 5. Each of the bus bars 3 and 4 is a substantially flat conductive member, and is formed into a desired shape, for example, a crank shape by press molding from a flat plate such as a copper manganese alloy or a copper nickel alloy.

  One end of one bus bar (hereinafter referred to as “first bus bar”) 3 is connected to a connecting wire (not shown) leading to the high voltage battery, and the other end is connected to the power module 5. On the other hand, one end of the other bus bar (hereinafter referred to as “second bus bar”) 4 is connected to a connecting wire (not shown) leading to a high voltage load, and the other end is connected to the power module 5.

  A through hole is formed in each end portion of the first bus bar 3. A screw 10a is inserted into one through hole (not shown), and the first bus bar 3 is fixed to the lower cover 2a by the screw 10a and fastened to a connecting wire of a high voltage battery. A screw 10b is inserted into the other through hole 3a, and the first bus bar 3 is fastened to the power terminal of the power module 5 and fixed to the lower cover 2a by the screw 10b.

  Similar to the first bus bar 3, through holes are formed in both end portions of the second bus bar 4. A screw 10c is inserted into one through hole (not shown), and the second bus bar 4 is fixed to the lower cover 2a and fastened to a connecting wire of a high voltage load by the screw 10c. Further, a screw 10d is inserted into the other through hole 4a, and the second bus bar 4 is fastened to the power terminal of the power module 5 and fixed to the lower cover 2a by the screw 10d.

  The pair of bus bars 3 and 4 in the other set form an electrical path (voltage circuit) between the high voltage battery and the high voltage load, and in this embodiment, the voltage circuit corresponding to the negative electrode side. It is. The pair of bus bars 3 and 4 are arranged on both sides of the power module 5, and constitute a continuous voltage circuit via the power module 5. The configuration of the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 on the negative electrode side is the same as the configuration of the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 on the positive electrode side described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The power module 5 conducts or shuts off the voltage circuit (shut-off unit). In order to cut off the energization of the voltage circuits on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side, two sets of power modules 5 are mounted on the electrical junction box 1 of the present embodiment. As a result, even when one of the power modules 5 fails, the other power module 5 can be used to perform a shut-off operation. Therefore, the voltage circuit can be reliably electrically disconnected from the high voltage load side.

  The power module 5 is disposed between the pair of bus bars 3 and 4. The power module 5 is configured by modularizing a plurality of power semiconductors (for example, n-type MOSFETs). A pair of power terminals (drain terminal, source terminal) 5 a is provided on each side of the power module 5 on the bus bar 3, 4 side, and a control for controlling the power module 5 is provided on the side of the control board 7. A terminal (gate terminal) 5b is provided. One power terminal 5a is fastened to the first bus bar 3 by a screw 10b, and the other power terminal 5a is fastened to the second bus bar 4 by a screw 10d. Further, the control terminal 5 b is connected to the control board 7.

  The control board 7 is a board on which the control unit 8 that controls the power module 5 is mounted. A through hole 7a is formed in a required position on the control board 7, and the control terminal 5b of the power module 5 is inserted into the through hole 7a. Further, a wiring pattern is formed on the control board 7 by a printed wiring technique. Thereby, the control terminal 5b inserted in the through hole 7a and the control unit 8 are electrically connected. The power module 5 and the control board 7 are fixed by screws 10e.

  As the control unit 8, a microcomputer mainly composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O interface can be used. The control unit 8 outputs a control signal for controlling the two sets of power modules 5.

  An external signal terminal 9 is disposed on the control board 7, and an external device (ECU or the like) and the control board 7 can be electrically connected via the external signal terminal 9. The control unit 8 can communicate with an external device via the external signal terminal 9 and can output the above-described control signal in response to a command from the external device.

  The electrical junction box 1 having such a configuration is used as a high-voltage power distribution box that performs energization or interruption between a high-voltage battery and a high-voltage load such as an inverter. When producing this electrical junction box 1, first, the control board 7 is arranged in the center of the lower cover 2a. Next, a pair of bus bars 3 and 4 are arranged on a routing path defined by the peripheral side wall 2a2 and the partition wall 2c of the lower cover 2a. Then, the power modules 5 are arranged in a stacked manner from above the pair of bus bars 3 and 4, and the pair of power terminals 5 a in the power module 5 and the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 are connected by screws 10 b and 10 d. Similarly, the power module 5 and the control board 7 are attached with the screw 10e. Thus, the pair of bus bars 3, 4, the power module 5, and the control board 7 are accommodated in the lower cover 2 a and disposed on substantially the same plane. The assembly work of the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 and the power module 5 is performed corresponding to the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side, respectively.

  Next, a connecting wire leading to the high voltage battery is connected to the end portion of the first bus bar 3 with a screw 10a, and the first bus bar 3 is fixed to the lower cover 2a. Similarly, a connecting wire leading to a high voltage load is connected to the end portion of the second bus bar 4 with a screw 10c, and the second bus bar 4 is fixed to the lower cover 2a.

  The electric junction box 1 is attached to the arrangement surface 20 such as a metal casing in the vehicle when used. In this case, the electrical junction box 1 is disposed such that the bottom surface 2a1 of the lower cover 2a faces the arrangement surface 20, and the insulating sheet 12 is provided between the bottom surface 2a1 and the arrangement surface 20. The insulating sheet 12 is disposed at a position corresponding to the power module 5 mounted on the lower cover 2a. As described above, the opening 2e is formed in the area where the power module 5 of the lower cover 2a is mounted, and the bottom surface of the power module 5 is disposed in contact with the arrangement surface 20 via the insulating sheet 12. This insulating sheet 12 is also one of the components of the electrical junction box 1.

  In the electrical junction box 1 having such a configuration, the control unit 8 outputs a control signal when receiving a shut-off command or the like from an external device. When this control signal is output to the control terminal 5b of the power module 5, a control voltage is applied to the control terminal 5b. Thereby, ON / OFF of the power module 5, that is, energization or interruption of the voltage circuit can be switched. Alternatively, the control unit 8 itself may determine the cutoff and output a control signal, or the power module 5 itself may determine the cutoff and perform the cutoff operation.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the electrical junction box 1 is disposed between the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 and the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 that form an electrical path between the high voltage battery and the high voltage load. The power module 5 for energizing and shutting off the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 and the control unit 8 for outputting a control signal for controlling the power module 5 are mounted and the control unit 8 and the control terminals of the power module 5 The control board 7 which electrically connects 5b and the box-shaped cover main body 2 are provided. Here, the pair of bus bars 3, 4, the power module 5, and the control board 7 are accommodated in the cover body 2 and arranged on substantially the same plane.

  According to this configuration, the electrical path is constituted by the bus bars 3 and 4, and a large current flowing through the power module 5 flows through the bus bars 3 and 4. The control board 7 handles control signals for controlling the power module 5. For this reason, since it is not necessary to form a circuit through which a large current flows on the control board 7, it is not necessary to use a thick copper board or the like for the control board 7, and an inexpensive and lightweight board can be used. In addition, since the pair of bus bars 3 and 4, the power module 5 and the control board 7 are positioned on substantially the same plane, the size of the cover body 2 in the height direction can be suppressed, and the height of the electrical connection box 1 can be reduced. Can be achieved. As a result, the overall height of the box can be reduced as well as weight reduction and cost reduction.

  In the present embodiment, “substantially on the same plane” does not only indicate that the pair of bus bars 3, 4, power module 5, and control board 7 are positioned on the same plane, but there is an overlap between these elements. It also includes being arranged.

  In addition, the electrical junction box 1 of the present embodiment includes an insulating sheet 12 (sheet-like insulation) disposed between the arrangement surface 20 in the vehicle on which the electrical junction box 1 is arranged and the bottom surface 2a1 of the lower cover 2a. Member). In this case, the bottom surface 2a1 of the cover body 2 is formed with an opening 2e penetrating the inside and the outside of the lower cover 2a in a position corresponding to the arrangement region of the power module 5. The bottom surface of the power module 5 is placed in contact with the placement surface 20 in the vehicle via the insulating sheet 12.

  According to this configuration, a heat dissipation route from the power module 5 via the insulating sheet 12 to the arrangement surface 20 in the vehicle can be secured. Thereby, the heat of the power module 5 can be released to the outside through two paths, together with the heat radiation route from the power module 5 to the connecting wire via the bus bars 3 and 4. As a result, the heat dissipation of the power module 5 can be performed effectively.

  In addition, it is also possible to radiate heat from the upper surface of the power module 5 by providing a heat radiation pad on the upper surface of the power module 5 and adopting a material having good thermal conductivity for the upper cover 2b.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the electrical junction box 1 further has a partition wall 2c that is erected on the bottom surface 2a1 of the lower cover 2a and forms a routing path for the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 along the peripheral side wall 2a2 of the lower cover 2a. doing. In this case, the control board 7 is disposed in the central region of the bottom surface 2a1 of the lower cover 2a, and the routing path of the pair of bus bars 3 and 4 is disposed around the partition wall 2c.

  According to this structure, a pair of bus bars 3 and 4, the power module 5, and the control board 7 can be efficiently arrange | positioned on the substantially same plane. Thereby, the magnitude | size of the height direction of the cover main body 2 can be suppressed, and the height reduction of the electrical junction box 1 can be achieved.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the power module 5 is laminated | stacked from the top of a pair of bus bars 3 and 4 arrange | positioned along a wiring path | route, and a pair of power terminal 5a of the power module 5 is a pair of bus bar 3. , 4 are attached to the respective ends.

  According to this configuration, the bus bars 3 and 4 and the power module 5 can be assembled by a simple method.

  In particular, in this embodiment, screws are used for assembling the bus bars 3 and 4 and the power module 5. Thereby, the increase in a number of parts can be suppressed and the improvement of assembly | attachment can be aimed at.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the assembly | attachment of the bus bars 3 and 4 and the power module 5 may be based on the terminals 3b and 4b. Thereby, the increase in a number of parts can be suppressed and the improvement of assembly | attachment can be aimed at.

  Alternatively, the bus bars 3 and 4 may be integrally formed with the lower cover 2a, or their positions may be set by welding a resin, and electrical connection may be performed by screwing.

  As mentioned above, although the electrical junction box concerning this embodiment was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this embodiment, A various change is possible in the range of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the power distribution box has been described, but the present invention can be applied to various electrical connection boxes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrical junction box 2 Cover main body 2a Lower cover 2a1 Bottom surface 2a2 Peripheral side wall 2b Upper cover 2c Partition 2d Pillar 2e Opening 3, 4 Bus bar 5 Power module 5a Power terminal (drain terminal, source terminal)
5b Control terminal (gate terminal)
7 Control board 8 Control unit 9 External signal terminal 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e Screw 12 Insulating sheet 20 Arrangement surface

Claims (4)

A pair of bus bars that form an electrical path between the power source and the electronic device;
A blocking portion that is disposed between the pair of bus bars and that energizes and blocks the pair of bus bars;
While mounting a control unit that outputs a control signal for controlling the blocking unit, a control board that electrically connects the control unit and the control terminal of the blocking unit,
A box-shaped cover,
The pair of bus bars, the blocking portion, and the control board are accommodated in the box-shaped cover and disposed on substantially the same plane. A sheet-like insulating member disposed between a placement surface in the vehicle where the electrical connection box is placed and a bottom surface of the box-like cover;
On the bottom surface of the box-shaped cover, an opening penetrating the inside and outside of the cover is formed in correspondence with the arrangement region of the blocking portion,
2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the blocking portion is disposed in contact with a layout surface in the vehicle via the sheet-like insulating member. A partition that is erected on the bottom surface of the box-shaped cover and forms a routing path for the pair of bus bars along the peripheral side wall of the box-shaped cover;
The control board is disposed in a central region of a bottom surface of the box-shaped cover, and a routing path of the pair of bus bars is disposed around the control board with the partition wall therebetween. The electrical junction box described in 1 or 2.   The blocking unit is disposed in a stacked manner from above the pair of bus bars arranged along the routing route, and the pair of power terminals of the blocking unit are respectively attached to end portions of the pair of bus bars. The electrical junction box according to claim 3, wherein

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